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Protein
Structure of protein and numerous roles in the body
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Essential Amino Acids (EAA) | Amino acids that are necessary for bodily functions but cannot be synthesized by the body and, therefore, must be obtained in the diet. |
| Branched Chain Amino Acid | The three essential amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) which are abundant in skeletal muscle tissue and named for their branch-like structure. |
| Conditionally Essential Amino Acids | Amino acids that are not typically essential, but can become essential during times of extreme dietary insufficiency, illness, or trauma. |
| Nonessential Amino Acids | Amino acids that can be synthesized by the body and do not, under normal circumstances, need to be obtained in the diet. |
| Acid-Base Balance | The process of achieving, or the state of, equilibrium between acidic and alkaline molecules. |
| Cell Signaling | Process of communication between cells by biological messengers to govern cellular function. |
| Organic Molecules | Chemical structures containing only carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and/or nitrogen. |
| Amino Acids | The organic building blocks of proteins containing both a carboxyl and an amino group. |
| Gluconeogenesis | A metabolic pathway that results in the generation of glucose from non-carbohydrate carbon substrates such as lactate, glycerol, and glucogenic amino acids. |
| Protein Synthesis | Process of joining amino acids with peptide bonds to form proteins. |
| Dehydration Synthesis | The joining of two large molecules by removing one hydrogen from one molecule and a hydroxyl group (OH) from another molecule and then binding the two larger molecules together on the newly freed bonds. |
| Peptide Bond | The bond between two amino acids, occurring between the carboxyl group of one and the amino group of the other. |
| Hydrolysis | Breakdown of one large molecule into two smaller molecules via the donation of one hydrogen and one hydroxyl group from water to the smaller molecules, respectively. |
| Dipeptide | A chain of two amino acids. |
| Tripeptide | A chain of three amino acids. |
| Oligopeptide | A chain of four to nine amino acids. |
| Polypeptide | A chain of 10 or more amino acids. |
| Denaturation | The process of changing a protein's shape. |
| Gastrin | A hormone released when food is ingested to stimulate release of digestive fluids. |
| Pepsinogen (pep.sin.o.gin) | A proenzyme secreted by the stomach as a precursor to pepsin. |
| Pepsin | An enzyme in the stomach that begins breaking peptide bonds. |
| Duodenum | It is the first section of the small intestine where some digestion occurs, and it is located immediately after the stomach and leads into the jejunum. |
| Secretin | A hormone that stimulates the liver and pancreas to produce bile and bicarbonate; inhibits gastrin release. |
| Cholecystokinin | A hormone secreted by the duodenum that causes release of enzymes and bile. |
| Protease Enzymes | Enzymes in the small intestine that break long peptide chains into shorter peptide chains. |
| Peptidase | An enzyme that breaks down small peptides. |
| Aminopeptidases | Enzymes that cleave individual amino acids from a peptide chain so they may be absorbed. |
| Hepatic Portal Vein | The vein that transports blood from the spleen, stomach, pancreas, and the intestinal tract to the liver. |
| Collagen | A protein formed of a triple-helix structure with great tensile strength, found primarily in skin, muscles/connective tissue, and bones. |
| Tensile Strength | Ability of a material to resist breaking under tension. |
| Elastin | A protein with high elasticity, found mainly in the skin. |
| Keratin | A protein found in hair and nails. |
| Sodium-Potassium Pump | A protein found on the cell membrane that transports sodium and potassium to create electrochemical gradients across the membrane. |
| Albumin | A protein found in the blood stream that helps draw water into the blood vessel from surrounding tissue. |
| Hemoglobin | An iron-containing protein found on red blood cells, binds oxygen and other molecules for transport in the blood. |
| Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) | Amount of nutrient needed to meet the needs of almost all individuals in an age–sex group. |
| Protein Quality | The quantity of essential amino acids found in, and the digestibility of, a protein. |
| Complete Protein | A protein that contains sufficient quantities of all essential amino acids. |
| Complementary Protein | Two incomplete proteins that, when comsumed together, mimic a complete protein by providing all essential amino acids. |